Shoestring

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈʃuːstɹɪŋ/

Definitions

  1. A very small or inadequate amount of money available for operating a business or project | a thin cord used to fasten a shoe
  2. A limited budget or financial resource for a venture is akin to a narrow string that secures footwear
  3. a slender lace that keeps shoes properly fastened acts as both a measurement of funding and an essential part of a shoe's design

Etymology: Before it came to mean the familiar cord used to fasten footwear, this term originally described a very literal string attached to a shoe. The word is a straightforward compound of "shoe" and "string," combining to name the simple yet essential accessory that holds shoes snugly on the feet. Its first appearances in English date back to the late Middle Ages, around the 15th century, when shoemaking and personal apparel were becoming more specialized crafts. The notion of a "string" as a thin cord or thread has roots in Old English "streng," which meant a line or cord made of twisted fibers. This was naturally applied to the cords used in shoes, which were often made from leather strips or woven fibers. The need for such strings arose with the evolution of shoe designs that required fastening, especially as people moved from simple sandals to more enclosed shoes. Over time, the term extended metaphorically in English beyond its literal meaning. By the 19th century, the phrase "shoestring budget" emerged, using the image of a slender, fragile string to suggest something minimal or barely sufficient. This figurative use reflects how the physical thinness and simplicity of a shoe’s fastening cord became a symbol for modest means or limited resources. The compound remains a vivid example of how everyday objects become embedded in language, carrying both their original tangible sense and new abstract connotations. The word’s transparent construction makes its meaning immediately accessible, linking the practical function of a shoe’s fastening to broader ideas of economy and simplicity.

Synonyms: cord, lace